Elevator signaling system.



W. A. LOOMlS.

ELEVATOR SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. I, 1916.

1 ,23 1,033 Patented June 26, 1917.

' SHE S- E I. Z1 2 ET SHET Mill/11000,,

i f (m3,

W. A. LOOMIS.

ELEVATOR SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.7,1916.

1,231,033. Patented June 26, 1917.

Z SHEETS-SHEET 2. I 7

mam: Q

WALTER A. LOOMIS, DE LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

ELEVATOR SIGNALING SY$TEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 26, 191 '7.

Application filed February 7, 1916. Serial No. 76,590.

To all 'wiiom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER A. Looms, a citizen of the United States, residing at LosAngeles, in the county of Los Angles and State of California, have invented a new and usefulflfilevator Signaling System, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an elevator sig naling system and has for its primary object to provide a signaling means which will indicate to the operators of elevator cars, their relative running positions at all times and enable the operators to run the cars at predetermined distances apart.

Another object of this invention is to provide a signaling means of the character described which will be automatic in operation, reliable and inexpensive to install and maintain in operation.

Other objects and advantages may appear in the subjoined detail description.

.The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the circuit controlling means of the signaling system;

Fig. 2 is a side shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the contact supporting plate;

Fig, 4 is a diagrammatic view of the moelevation of said means .tion transforming or ratchet mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing the ratchet mechanism in another position;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view in detail of the disks showing the stop pins;

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view of the entire system showing the circuit controlling metns in its normal and operative positions; an

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view of the system in part showing the position the circuitcontrolling means assumes when the elevator cars arerunning out of time.

The invention generally comprises in combination with a plurality of independently operable elevator cars, signaling means such as lamps, located in each of the cars, an electrical circuit associated with the signaling means of each car and mechanical means for so controlling the circuit that the signaling means of each car will operate in ac cordance with the relative positions of the several or two or more cars, thus keeping the operators of the cars posted as to their relative running positions and making it possible for the operators to regulate the running of the cars to keep them spaced apart predetermined distances.

ferring to the drawings, 7 designates the base of the circuit controller, 8 a shaft journaled in the base, 9 a friction disk keyed upon the shaft, 10 a sprocket loosely mounted upon the shaft, 11 a spring mounted on the shaft and frictionally holding the sprocket in engagement with the disk, 12 a nut adjustably mounted on the shaft and serving as a bearing for the spring whereby the tension of the spring may be regulated and 13 a pinion keyed upon the shaft 8. The sprocket 10 is connected with the elevator hoisting and lowering mechanism, not shown, and as it frictionally engages the disk 9 it provides for the rotation of the shaft 8 and pinion 13 in one direction when the elevator is going up and in the opposite direction when the elevator is going down. A horizontal shaft 14 is journaled in bearings 15 on the base 7 and carries the rotary member 16of a circuit-controller 17. The rotary member 16 must rotate in one direction at all times, and to provide for this, changing or ratchet means 18 having connection with the pinion 13 and shaft 14.

there is preferably employed motion-.

The means 18 comprises preferably cirv cular disks 19 and 20 which are loosely mounted upon the shaft 14 and are provided with facial teeth 21 meshing with the pinion 13 on opposite sides thereof. It will be seen that the pinion 13 rotates the disks 19 and 20 in opposite direction and that said disks rotate freely upon the shaft 14. Keyed upon the shaft 14 between the disks 19 and 20 is a circular plate 22 which is provided on its periphery with spaced flanges 23 and 24.. At diametrically opposite points the plate 22 is provided with notches, a notch 25 being provided in the flange 23 and a notch 26 in the flange 24. Pivoted upon the inner faces of the disks 19 and 20 are dogs 19 and 20 respectively, which cooperate with the flanges 23 and 2d and ride thereon. Each of the dogs is yieldingly held in engagement with the periphery of its respective flange by a spring 29. A lug 30 depends from the under side of each dog and rides upon the periphery of the flanges, said lug being adapted to extend into the notch in the flange on which it rides. A lateral stop pin 19 is carried by the disk 19 and isextended toward the plate 20 for cotiperation with the dog 19 and a similar pin 20 is carried by the plate 20 and extended for co6peration with the dog 20. In this connection it will be noted that the free ends of the dogs are curved as at 33 so as to provide a cam surface for coiiperation with the pins. One of the stop pins, for example, the one 19 is secured to the disk 19 at a point nearer to the periphery thereof than is the pin 20 relative to the periphery of the disk 20 and both pins are offset as at 33 thus they may. pass each other Without interference during the rotation of the disks. The circuit controller 17 comprises a sta 'tionary upright member 34 which coijperates with the rotary member 16. The member 16 is splined upon the shaft 14 'and carried upon the 34 and near its periphery are a plurality of contacts designated respectively 35, 36 and 37 These contacts coiiperate with a plurality of spring-pressed contacts 38 arranged arcuately upon the member 34 so that the contacts 35, 36 and 37 are at all times engaged with certain of the contacts 38, the latter being closely associated, whereas the former are spaced apart'in accordance with the conditions of elevator service, as will be later more fully described.

Mounted upon the member 16, concentric with the shaft 14 are contact rings 39, 40 and 41, which are engaged by spring-pressed contact plungers 42, 43 and 44 respectively, the latter being carried by the member 34 and associated as are the contacts 38 with an electrical circuit, which will be later more fully described.

There is provided means for moving the member 16 out ofcontact with the contacts 38, 42. and 44, which comprises an arm 45 pivoted at its upper end as at 46 to a bracket 47 carried by one of the bearings 15 for the shaft 14. This arm 45 is connected with a collar 48 carried by the member 16 and extends below said collar 48. An electromagnet 49 is carried on the bearing 15 and located to attract an armature 50 mounted on the lower end of the arm 45 so as to draw said arm inwardly and consequently move the member 16 away from the contact therefor. A spring catch 51 mounted on the base holds the arm 45 and the member 16 in outof-the-way position. An electromagnet 52 having as an armature the free end 53 of the spring catch 51 is arranged to attract said free end so that the catch is moved out of holding relation to the arm, when the magnet is energized. A spring 54 mounted on the shaft 14 moves the member 16 back into cooperating position with the contacts on the face thereof opposed to the member.

arranged in the same relation member 34. The means for moving the member 16 into and out of position 1s controlled from the elevator cars, as will be later more fully described.

Referring to Figs. 7 and 8, A and B designate elevator cars which are independently operable and carry signaling means which, in this instance, are red lights 55 and white lights 56. Associated with the cars are the circuit-controllers 17 heretofore described and which shall be designated G and D respectively. v

A battery or other source of current 57 is associated with the cars A and B and cooperating mechanism. A conductor 59 extends from one side of the battery 57 tothe white light signal 56 of the car B, and is also connected by means of wires 60, 61 and 62 with the lamps 55 and 56 of the car A and the lamp 55 of the car B. From the lamps 55 and 56 of the car A, conductors 63 and 64 lead and are connected with contact mem bers 43 and 44, which contact members cooperate with the contact rings 40 and 41 respectively. The contact rings 40 and 41 are electrically connected with the contacts 36 and 37 which are carried upon the member 16. x j

For the carB the wiring 1s similar to that of the car A. Wires 65 and 66 lead from the lamps 55 and 56 of the car B to the'contacts 43 and 44 ,of the mechanism D, the latter contacts being associated with the rings 40 and 41 and the rings 40 and 41 being electrically connected with the contacts 36 and 37 respectively. From the other side of the battery 57, aconductor 67 leads and is connected with the contact 42 of the mechanism C, said contact 42 being engaged with the ring 39 and the ring being connected electrically with the contact 35. For the mechanism D, a wire 68 connected with the conductor 67 and with the contact 42 of the mechanism D, is provided.

As shown inthe drawings, there are pro vided eighteen of the contacts 38 for each of the mechanisms C and D, said contacts 38 being adapted for coiiperation with the contact segments 35, 36 and 37. The contacts 38 are arranged at equi-distantly spaced points, and in installing the system the-contacts of each of the mechanism C and D are with one another. Each contact of 0m mechanism is connected with its corresponding contact of the other mechanism. 'Beginning with the uppermost contact from right to left, said contacts are lettered e, f, g, h, 2', j, k, m, n, 0, g0, q, 1', s, t, u, v, w. The contacts 6 of both mechanisms C and D are connected by a conductor e, the contacts f by a conductor f, the contacts 9 by a conductor g, the con tacts h by a conductor h, the contacts 2' by a conductor 2", the contacts by a conductor the contacts is by a conductor k, the contacts m by a conductor m, the contacts at by a conductor n, the contacts by a conductor 0, the contacts 20 by a conductor ,1), the contacts 9 by a conductor 9, the contacts 1" by a conductor 1*, the contacts 8 by a conductor s, the contacts t by a conductor 2?, the contacts u by a conductor u, the contacts by a conductor '0, and the contacts to by a conductor w. When the mechanisms C and Dare in the full line positions shown Fig. 5, the circuits for the signaling means in the cars A and B are open since the contacts 35, 36 and 37 touch contacts 38 which do not correspond and are not connected with one another.

When the car A ascends, the shaft 8 r0- tates from left to right causing the disk 19 to rotate from left to right and the disk 20 to rotate from right to left. The mechanism is geared so that the disks 19 and 20 make one-half revolution to every trip of the elevators. When the car starts the dog 19 is engaged in the notch 25 of the flange 23, whereas the dog is held out of the notch 26 by the pin 19 as shown in Fig. 4 in the drawings. The pin 20 carried by the plate 20 rotates counter-clockwise and upon encountering the beveled face of the dog 19'', said dog being rotated clockwise, is lifted out of the notch in the flange 23 and the controller discontinues operation until the car descends. At this time the dog 20 is in the former position of the dog 19 and is engaged in the notch 26 in the flange 24, whereas the dog 19 is held out of the notch 25 of the flange 23 by the pin 20.

\ When the elevator descends the direction of the rotation of the shaft 8 changes to countor-clockwise and the disk 20 rotates clock-' wise, whereas the disk 19 rotates counterclockwise. As the dog 20 is engaged with the notch 26in the flange 24 and the disk 20 carrying said dog rotates clockwise,-a similar movement will be imparted the plate 22 and shaft 14. While the disk 20 is rotating the plate 22, the disk 19 is moving so that the dog 19 is brought to its normal position as shown in Fig. 4 and into registration with the notch 25,, whereas the stop pin 19 -notch 26.

holds the dog 20 from engagement in the It will thus be seen that the shaft 14 is rotated clockwise at all times.

, When the car A ascends the contact carrying member 16 moves clockwise from its full line position shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings carrying with it the contact segments 35, 36 and 37. 'At this time the contact segments 35, 36 and 37 of the mechanism D for the car B are stationary, the contact segment 37 being engaged-with contacts p, g and r of the latter mechanism. In this connection it is noted that the contact segment 37 is adapted to engage at least three of the contacts 38 at one time, whereas the contacts 35 and 36 are each adapted to enductor 67, contact brush 42, contact ring 39,

contact segment 35, contact 70, conductor p to contact 30 of mechanism D, contact segment 37 contact ring 41, contact brush 44, conductor 66, white light 56 of car B and back to the battery 57 from light 56 through conductor 59. When this circuit is closed for the white light 56 of the car B the operator of said car is notified thathe is free to start. Therelative running positions of the cars may be determined in accordance with the elevator service needed and the contacts 35, 36 and 37 so arranged relative to each other that signals in the cars A and B will be operated in accordance with the conditions of service.

When the first signal is given as above described, the car A, for example, will be at the third floor and as the contact'segment of the mechanism C advances from left to right and touches the contacts 29 and g the circuit will remain closed for the white light 56 of the car B. If the car B starts upon being given the signal, the contacts 35, 36 and 37 of the mechanism D are moved out of coiiperative position relative to the contacts 35, 36 and 37 of the mechanism C and assume normal position as shown in Fig. 7 in full lines, thus the signaling means in the cars A and B does not operate and the operators of the cars know that the cars are being kept in the proper and predetermined relative running positions. Should the car A lose its proper running position relative to the car B by getting ahead of the car B the contacts 35, 36 and 37 of both mechanisms move out of line and as soon as the contacts 35 and 36 of either mechanism touch the contacts 38 whose corresponding contacts of the other mechanism are touching the contact 37 of the latter mechanism, a circuit will be established for the red light of the car B, and white light of car A indicating to the operator of the car B that he is behind and to the operator of car A that he 1S ahead. For example, when the contact 37 of mechanism G touches the contacts a, o and w and the contacts 35 and 36 touch contacts u and w of mechanism D a circuit will be established as follows: From battery 57 current flows through wire 59, red light 55 of car B, wire 65, brush 43, contact ring 40, contact segment 36, contactu, wire a, contact at of mechanism C, segment 37, through 37 to contact 'v or w, and from thence to contact 35 of mechanism D, ring 39, brush 42 and from thence back to battery 57 through the wire 68. At the same time current flows from battery 57 through wire 59, white light 56 ductor 67 and the magnet 49. A conductor 70 is connected with the magnet 49 and a one-point. switch 71 which is located within the car A, and leading from the one-point switch 71 is a conductor 72 that connects with the conductor 59 which is connected to the other side of the battery 57 A conductor 73 connects the conductor 69 with the magnet 52 and leading from the magnet 52 is a conductor 74 that is connected with a one-point switch 75 located in the car A. A conductor 76 connects the one-point switch 75 with the conductor 72. These switches 71 a and 75 are at the control of the operator of the car A, the one 71 controlling the circuit for the magnet 49 to throw the contact carrying element 16 of-the member 17 out of position, whereas the one-point switch 75 controls the circuit for the magnet 52 that operates to allow the disk 16 to be returned to normal position through the action of the spring 54 on the shaft 14.

As shown in Fig. 7 in the circuit for the magnets 49 and 52.0f the mechanism D, current flows through a conductor 78 that is connected with a one-point switch 79 and wire 59. I A conductor 80 connects the magnet 49 with the one-point switch 79 and a conductor 81 leads from the magnet 49 to the other side of the battery 57 through wire '68.

A conductor 82 is connected with the conductor 59 and with a one-point switch- 83 similar to the one 79. A conductor 84 connects the one-point switch83 with the magnet 52 and a conductor 85 connects the magnet 52 with the conductor 81 which returns the current to the other side of the battery 57. It will be seen that either car may be cut out of the signaling system when desired by operating the one-point switches.

The controllers 17 are so rotated that the members'16 thereof complete their half revolutions before the cars A and B reach the uppermost fioor andpreferably thiscompletion of movement of the members takes place at the time that the car is at. such a position relative to said upper floor that the operator may see whether or not pros pective passengers are waiting to be taken down. This, it will be seen, saves considerable distance which the car'would ordinarily have to cover and consequently a great deal of time is also saved, thus providing for a quick and efficient elevator service. For the above reason the friction drive means including the disk 9, sprocket 10 and spring 11 is provided and it will be noted that when on the lower sides of Figs. 4 and 5 in the drawings, thus locking the disks 19 and 20, shaft 14 and disk 8 against movement. At this time the sprocket 9 yields against the action of the spring 10 and rotates relative' to the disk 8 with turning the said disk. This arrangement permits the operator of the car to pass on up to the top fioor if necessary without causing the controller 17 to operate further.

It will also be seen that because of this arrangement a certain amount of lee-Way or latitude is allowed the cars, this latitude being equal to the distance between the point at which the .car is when the member 17 discontinues rotating and the position of the car when at the top floor.

I claim:

1. In an elevator signaling system, the combination with independently operable elevator cars adapted to run at predetermined. relative positions, of electrical signaling means in each car, a normally open circuit for and common to said signaling means, and means to close the circuit for the signaling means of the cars when the latter move out of their predetermined relative positions, comprising a series of correspondingly arranged contacts for each car, rotatable contact members for each series, the corresponding contact members of said series being connected with one another electrically, said rotatable contacts being normally engaged with non-corresponding con- 7 tacts of said series, and means for rotating the rotatable contacts synchronously when the cars are running at their predetermlned relative positions whereby when one car trical circuit common to the signaling means,

a series of contacts for one car, another series of contacts for the other car, said contacts being correspondingly arranged and said corresponding contacts being electrically connected with each other, rotatable contacts for each series normally contacting with non-corresponding contacts of said series, and means for synchronously rotating the rotatable contacts when the elevator cars are running simultaneously whereby when one of the cars stops running or assumes a position relative to the other car which is other than determined upon, said operable contacts will touch corresponding contacts of the series and the circuit for the signaling means will be closed.

3. In an elevator signaling system, the combination with elevator cars adapted to run at predetermined relative positions, electrical signaling means in each car, a normally open electrical circuit for the signaling means, a series of contact members for one car, a series of contact members for an other car, said contact members being correspondingly arranged and having its corresponding contacts electrically connect-ed with each other, a rotary contact member for each series of contacts, said rotary contact members being normally engaged with the contact members of the series which are not electrically connected with one another, and means to move said rotary contact members into engagement with certain of those of the contact series which are connected with one another when the cars move out of a predetermined relative position.

4. In an elevator signaling means, the combination with one of the rotating elements of the elevator hoisting and lowering mechanism and signaling means, of means to operate the signaling means including a shaft, disks loosely mounted upon the shaft, another disk located between the first-named disks and keyed upon the shaft, driving connections between the disks and rotary member rotating said disks in opposite directions, means carried by the loosely mounted disks for transmitting rotation in a given direction to the last-named disk whereby the last-named shaft'is rotated.

5. In an elevator signaling system, a plurality of independently operable elevator cars, signaling means in each car, an electrical circuit common to the signaling means, a series of contacts for each car, said contacts being electrically connected with each other, movable contacts for each series normally contacting with noncorresponding contacts, and means for synchronously moving the contents when the elevator cars are running in predetermined relative positions to one another whereby when one of the cars assumes a position relative to the other, other than determined upon, the contacts will touch corresponding contacts and the circuit for the signaling means will be closed.

6. In an electrical signal for elevators, the combination with independently operable elevator cars, of signaling means in each car, an electrical circuit for the signaling means being normally open and means to close said circuit when an elevator car moves out of its predetermined position relative to another car comprising movable contact members connected in said circuit and stationary contact members, and means to move said movable contact members synchronously when the cars are run at their predetermined relative positions and operating to move said contacts into engagement with certainof the stationary contacts when one of the cars moves out of its predetermined position.

7. In an elevator signaling system, the combination with independently operable elevator cars adapted to run in predetermined relative positions, of electrical signaling means in each car, a normally open electrical circuit for said signaling means and means to close said circuit when one of the cars moves out of its predetermined position relative to the other car, comprising stationary contact members for each car, said contact members being correspondingly arranged, said corresponding contact members being electrically connected and movable contact members for each car connected in said circuit and normally engaging noncorresponding contacts, and means to move said contacts into engagement with certain corresponding stationary contacts when one car moves out of predetermined position relative to the other.

, Signed at Los Angeles, California, this 28th day of January, 1916.

WALTER A. LOOMIS.

Witnesses:

CHAS. J. CHUNN, L. BELLE WEAVER. 

